City Council Divided on Riverfront Park

While a vote is scheduled for Tuesday night's meeting, the continued division among council members over awarding a design contract for Riverfront Park makes the outcome uncertain.

"I am very surprised by the mere fact that some people want to see us not go forward and the intensity of the attacks on what has happened and where we are," Ward 2 Councilor George Solley told Patch.

"The objections that have been brought forward were unfounded in the first place, or have been addressed," he said.

Some History

Solley and At-Large member Kerry Devine were appointed by City Council to the Riverfront Part task force when it was first approved Jan. 9, 2007, according to meeting minutes. This was what Solley called "the first generation" of the task force. "The City Manager had already contracted for a design," Solley said. He said having a park on the river front is a long-standing city goal. "A park downtown has been seen as an economic driver," he said.

In 2010 City Council made Riverfront Park one of its highest priorities, Solley said. "The original task force was never officially dismantled, so we reconvened," Solley said. "We broadened the scope of the first generation of the task force, based on the purchase of land," he said. 

The Prince Hall Masonic Lodge 61 land, which bordered the planned Riverfront Park land, was purchased by the City for $925K in 2011.

The Riverfront Park Task Force met six times between Oct. 2011 and July 2012, in the end recommending the City Manger pursue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a master design of Riverfront Park. Money to pay for the design — a total of $200,000 — was already included in the budget, according to Solley.

At its first meeting Oct. 19, 2011, the task force determined its overall objective was "to initiate and complete final design of the riverfront park," according to meeting minutes.

To that end, the task force assigned Solley the job of writing a letter to City Manager Beverly Cameron requesting — as quoted below, per the Jan. 25, 2012 minutes:

1. that the City not continue with the current design. The Task Force recommends that the City bid the complete design project and select the best applicant.
2. that the City incorporate the newly acquired Masonic property into the Riverfront Park design and that the land adjacent to the Masonic property used as a City parking lot also be considered as part of the design.
3. that the area in the floodway continue to be considered for use as an amphitheater, pending further investigation as to the feasibility of that concept.
4. that the new design keep the interim improvements where practical to do so, but that these should not dictate the new design.
5. that the park should be an attraction for visitors, usable for gatherings and special events, and a welcoming place for residents. If other uses can be accommodated given those objectives, fine. Specific uses such as rowing club facilities or boat ramps should be considered during the design process.

The task force approved the letter at the March 15 meeting, according to minutes.

At City Council's April 24 meeting, Solley provided a briefing on the history and activities of the Task Force. "I briefed City Council on its content [the letter to the City Manger] and there were no comments or objections at that time," Solley said. He said everyone on council knew there was $200,000 approved in the budget for the design, although Ward 3 Councilman Fred Howe indicated he'd like the money reassigned.

The RFP was issued May 29, 2012. Solley said 11 companies responded to the RFP request, and the top three were interviewed by city staff and the task force. Rhodeside and Harwell Inc. was chosen. The contract is valued at $99,656 with an option of an additional $7,062.

It's the vote on officially awarding the Alexandria-based company the design contract that is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 8. The vote has been tabled several times, due to objections and requests for more information from some council members.

Disagreements Heat Up

Over the weekend, Council Members Matthew Kelly (At-Large), Fred Howe (Ward 3), Bea Paolucci (Ward 4), and Vice-Mayor Brad Ellis submitted a letter to the editor outlining their oppositions for moving ahead with the contract approval at this time.

These four, for example, want to see ecological issues including flood plain and river bank stabilization addressed before a design contract is awarded.

Solley counters that addressing those issues is part of the design process. "The Corps of Engineers and the Friends of the Rappahannock have told me they will work with the task force and the city involving wetlands and any other environmental issues," he said. The issues are not being ignored, Solley said, but are always explored as part of any design process.

Those against awarding the design contract also point to the economic downturn, and the need to prioritize needs and wants. 

"Even after a concept for the park is agreed upon, cost will be an issue," the four wrote in their op-ed. "Localities are having to do more with less and the riverfront park is not the only city priority. Others include providing 24/7 advanced life support and commitments to our schools, all of which come with significant costs. The City is already facing a $5 million dollar budget shortfall projected in 2016 with no new revenue sources identified."

Solley said moving forward with Riverfront Park was named as a top priority during City Council's fall 2012 retreat. With that in mind, he doesn't understand why now some council members want to reallocate the budgeted design money on something else. He adds that City Council has not investigated all the possibilities for funding the park's completion.

"We don't know about the money to build the park," he said. "It may be economically advantageous to move forward, and there may be grant funds available that we have not tapped," he said. "My experience on City Council is if you have a design or plan ready when funds are available, you are the one who is going to receive those funds." 

"We don't know, but there are chances that being able to obtain revenue is better if we have the park design," Solley said. "The city can do things to set the conditions for private investment," he said. He hopes City Council will award the contract tonight.

Tuesday's meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers at City Hall, and is open to the public.  The complete agenda and the pending contract are attached to this article as pdf's.

Related Stories:

Riverfront Park Again Center of Council Contention (Jan. 6, 2013)

Letter: Councilmembers React to River Front Editorial (Jan. 6, 2013)

Council to Continue Riverfront Park Debate (Dec. 11, 2012)

Riverfront Park May Require Special Permits (Dec. 11, 2012)

Riverfront Park's Future: What's The Best Next Step? (April 23, 2012)

City Moves to Buy Riverfront Lodge (May 16, 2011)

Subscribe to Fredericksburg Patch's email newsletter.